US20100252622A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20100252622A1
Application number: US12/418,920
Authority: US
Inventors: Jo Ann Bedore
Original assignee: Mastercard International Inc
Current assignee: Mastercard International Inc
Priority date: 2009-04-06
Filing date: 2009-04-06
Publication date: 2010-10-07
Also published as: US8485436B2

Abstract

A simulated contactless identification card reader includes an antenna adjacent a card presentation surface. The antenna is for exchanging wireless signaling with a contactless identification card presented to the card presentation surface. The contactless identification card reader may further include a detection unit coupled to the antenna to detect a presence of a contactless identification card, and an output indicator coupled to the detection unit to provide a user-perceivable indication when the detection unit detects a presence of a contactless identification card.

Description

BACKGROUND

Payment cards such as credit or debit cards are ubiquitous. For decades, such cards have included a magnetic stripe on which the relevant account number is stored. To consummate a purchase transaction with such a card, the card is swiped through a magnetic stripe reader that is part of a point of sale terminal. The reader reads the account number from the magnetic stripe. The account number is then used to route a transaction authorization request that is initiated by the point of sale terminal.

In pursuit of still greater convenience and more rapid transactions at point of sale terminals, payment cards have more recently been developed that allow the account number to be automatically read from the card by radio frequency communication between the card and a so-called “proximity reader” or “contactless reader” which may be incorporated with the point of sale terminal. In such cards, often referred to as “proximity payment cards” or “contactless payment cards”, a Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) Integrated Circuit (“IC,” often referred to as a “chip”) is embedded in the card body. A suitable antenna is also embedded in the card body and is connected to the RFID chip to allow the chip to receive and transmit data by RF communication via the antenna. In typical arrangements, the RFID chip is powered from an interrogation signal that is transmitted by the contactless reader and received by the card antenna.

MasterCard International Incorporated, the assignee hereof, has established a widely-used standard, known as “PayPass,” for interoperability of contactless payment cards and contactless readers. Note that PayPass is not the only standard that has been established for contactless payment operations. For example, American Express has established a contactless payment communications standard that is called “ExpressPay”, and Amex has issued contactless payment cards in its name that operate in accordance with the ExpressPay standard. Other contactless payment communication standards have also been established.

Despite the greater convenience offered by contactless payment card systems, some consumers who have not used them may be apprehensive about trying the systems. For example, a consumer might be nervous that he or she will hold or move the contactless card in the wrong way, resulting in an embarrassing inability to complete a transaction. Some consumers are so unsure of how the systems operate in practice they decide to completely forgo the use of contactless payment cards. Note that once a consumer uses his or her contactless payment card a few times, these concerns typically vanish and thereafter they freely and confidently use the card.

Thus, improved devices and methods associated with the introduction of contactless identification card system to consumers would be advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system wherein a contactless payment card is being presented to a typical contactless payment card reader.

FIG. 2 is a method associated with a simulated contactless identification card reader according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of system wherein a contactless identification card is being presented to a simulated contactless payment card reader according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example associated with a simulated contactless payment card reader according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of asystem100 wherein acontactless payment card110 is being presented to a typical contactlesspayment card reader120. According to some embodiments, thecontactless payment card110 may include a card-shaped plastic body. Note that the card-shaped plastic body may be of any convenient size, but preferably has the same dimensions as a standard identification card format such as the commonly used ID-1 standard format. Although a “payment”card110 is illustrated inFIG. 1, note that embodiments of the present invention may be associated with other types of identification mechanisms, such as contactless debt cards, loyalty program cards, etc. Moreover, the term “card” may refer to any device or object that can be used to identify a person or account.

Thecontactless payment card110 may further include an IC112 embedded in and/or supported by the plastic body. In addition, thecontactless payment card110 may include an antenna that is coupled to theIC112 and is embedded in and/or supported by the plastic body. For example, the antenna may be coupled to the IC112 via terminals on the IC112. According to some embodiments, the antenna may be a loop antenna consisting of a few turns of a conductive material.

TheIC112 of thecontactless payment card110 may include a control/data storage portion (not separately shown) and transmit/receive circuitry (not separately shown) by which theIC112 may transmit and/or receive communications via the antenna. The IC112 may for example operate in accordance with the above-mentioned PayPass standard.

Also not separately shown, but included in theIC112, is circuitry that supplies power for theIC112 from an interrogation signal received via the antenna. Thecontactless payment card112 may be “passive” in the sense that it derives all of its power needs from the interrogation signal, and is inactive when not being interrogated or otherwise supplied with a power signal. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, thecontactless payment card110 does not include a battery.

Note that the functionality ascribed herein to theIC112 may alternatively be embodied in a chip set, rather than in a single IC.

The contactlesspayment card reader120 may, for example, be located at a retailer and/or be coupled to a local point ofsale terminal130. The contactlesspayment card reader120 may further include a housing on which a keypad is mounted, and the keypad may be used by the customer to enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in connection with a purchase transaction with the retailer. The contactlesspayment card reader120 may further include a display mounted in the housing for the purpose of providing information from the contactlesspayment card reader120 to a customer. A swipe slot may also be formed in the housing to allow a magnetic stripe card to be swiped for reading by the contactlesspayment card reader120. (Thus the example contactlesspayment card reader120 shown inFIG. 1 could also have magnetic stripe reading functionality.)

The contactlesspayment card reader120 may include anIC122 and an antenna mounted adjacent acard presentation surface128. The antenna may be a loop antenna and is provided for the purpose of exchanging wireless signaling with thecontactless payment card110. In some embodiments, the antenna may be embedded in the housing at thecard presentation surface128.

TheIC122 of the contactlesspayment card reader120 may include electronic circuitry for controlling the contactlesspayment card reader120 and for transmitting and receiving wireless communications to and/or from thecontactless payment card110. The control/transmit/receive circuitry may be coupled to the antenna (as well as to a local keypad and/or display). The control/transmit/receive circuitry may be configured so that the contactlesspayment card reader120 supports and is selectively operable with a number of different contactless communication standards, including the PayPass standard and other standards.

In accordance with conventional practices, the contactlesspayment card reader120 may read a customer's payment card account number via wireless communication from thecontactless payment card110 and may upload the customer's payment card account number to the point ofsale terminal130 via a communication signal path. The point ofsale terminal130 may, in turn, may use the customer's payment card account number in initiating, with aremote authorization engine140 and associatedidentifier databases150, a request for an authorization of a purchase transaction between the customer and the retailer.

MasterCard International Incorporated, the assignee hereof, has established a widely-used standard, known as “PayPass,” for interoperability ofcontactless payment cards110 andcontactless readers120. Note that PayPass is not the only standard that has been established for contactless payment operations. For example, American Express has established a contactless payment communications standard that is called “ExpressPay”, and Amex has issued contactless payment cards in its name that operate in accordance with the ExpressPay standard. Other contactless payment communication standards have also been established. Embodiments described herein may be associated with any of these types of communication standards.

Despite the convenience offered by the contactlesspayment card system100, some consumers who have not used it may be apprehensive about trying thesystem100. For example, a consumer might be nervous that he or she will hold or move thecontactless card110 in the wrong way, resulting in an embarrassing inability to complete a transaction with the retailer. Some consumers are so unsure of how thesystem100 operates in practice they decide to completely forgo the use of thecontactless payment card110. Note that once a consumer uses his or her contactless payment card110 a few times, these concerns typically vanish and thereafter they freely and confidently use the card.

To help consumers feel more comfortable about using contactless payment cards,FIG. 2 is a method associated with a simulated contactless identification card reader according to some embodiments. The flow charts described herein do not necessarily imply a fixed order to the actions, and embodiments may be performed in any order that is practicable. Note that any of the methods described herein may be performed by hardware, software (microcode), or any combination of these approaches. For example, a storage medium may store thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in performance according to any of the embodiments described herein.

At202, a simulated contactless identification card reader may detect that a contactless identification card is being presented to a card presentation surface. The identification card might be associated with, for example, a contactless payment card (e.g., associated with a debit or credit account), an employee badge, or a consumer loyalty program. According to any of the embodiments described herein, a contactless identification card may also be associated with any type of contactless payment device, including wireless telephones. The contactless identification card reader may be considered “simulated,” for example, because it does not receive, store, process, and/or facilitate an authorization in connection with an identifier of the contactless identification card being presented (e.g., of a credit card number) and/or does not communicate with any device outside the simulated contactless identification card reader other than the contactless identification card.

At204, the simulated contactless identification card reader may automatically provide a user-perceivable indication directly in response to said detecting. For example, the user-perceivable indication might comprise a sound (e.g., a buzz or beep) or visual indication to the consumer. The consumer can then be confidently re-assured that he or she has held and/or moved the card properly in connection with the reader.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of asystem300 wherein acontactless identification card310 is being presented to a simulated contactlesspayment card reader320 according to some embodiments. According to some embodiments, thecontactless payment card310 may include a card-shaped plastic body. Note that the card-shaped plastic body may be of any convenient size, but preferably has the same dimensions as a standard identification card format such as the commonly used ID-I standard format.

Thecontactless payment card310 may further include anIC312 embedded in and/or supported by the plastic body. In addition, thecontactless payment card310 may include an antenna that is coupled to theIC312 and is embedded in and/or supported by the plastic body. For example, the antenna may be coupled to theIC312 via terminals on theIC312. According to some embodiments, the antenna may be a loop antenna consisting of a few turns of a conductive material.

TheIC312 of thecontactless payment card310 may include a control/data storage portion (not separately shown) and transmit/receive circuitry (not separately shown) by which theIC312 may transmit and/or receive communications via the antenna. TheIC312 may, for example, operate in accordance with the above-mentioned PayPass standard.

Also not separately shown, but included in theIC312, is circuitry that supplies power for theIC312 from an interrogation signal received via the antenna. Thecontactless payment card312 may be “passive” in the sense that it derives all of its power needs from the interrogation signal, and is inactive when not being interrogated or otherwise supplied with a power signal. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, thecontactless payment card310 does not include a battery.

Note that the functionality ascribed herein to theIC312 may alternatively be embodied in a chip set, rather than in a single IC.

The simulated contactlesspayment card reader320 may, for example, be included in a mailing that is sent to new or potential users of a contactless card system. The simulated contactlesspayment card reader320 may further include adetection unit322 and an antenna mounted adjacent acard presentation surface328. The antenna may be a loop antenna and is provided for the purpose of exchanging wireless signaling with thecontactless payment card310. In some embodiments, the antenna may be embedded in the mailing at thecard presentation surface328.

Thedetection unit322 of the simulated contactlesspayment card reader320 may include electronic circuitry for controlling the simulated contactlesspayment card reader320 and for transmitting and/or receiving wireless communications to and/or from thecontactless payment card310.

To help consumers feel more comfortable about using thecontactless payment card310, thedetection circuit322 of the simulated contactlessidentification card reader320 may further be coupled to an output indicator to automatically provide a user-perceivable indication when the detection unit detects thecontactless identification card310. For example, the output indicator may be aspeaker324 to generate a sound (e.g., a buzz or a beep) when thedetection unit322 detects a presence of thecontactless identification card310. As another example, the output indicator may be a visual indicator, such as a Light Emitting Diode (“LED”)326 or Liquid Crystal Display (“LCD”) that generates a visual indication when thedetection unit322 detects thecontactless identification card310. Upon receiving the confirmation from thespeaker324 and/orLED326, the consumer can feel re-assured that he or she has held and/or moved thecard310 properly in connection with the simulated reader320 (and that he or she will do so when facing an actual reader at a retail establishment). Note that some or all of the components of the system may include Near Field Communication (“NFC”) short-range wireless connectivity components or similar elements.

The contactlessidentification card reader320 may be considered “simulated,” for example, because it does not receive, store, process, and/or facilitate an authorization in connection with an identifier of the contactless identification card being presented (e.g., from a remote authorization engine as in thesystem100 ofFIG. 1) and/or does not communicate with any device outside the simulated contactlessidentification card reader320 other than thecontactless identification card310.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example400 associated with a simulated contactless payment card reader according to one embodiment. In particular, apaper mailing402 may be sent to new or prospective customers who may use a contactless identification card. The mailing may include a substantiallyplanar paper sleeve450, such as a sleeve or envelope having a substantially flat, two-dimensional shape. Note that the “paper”sleeve450 might be formed of cardboard, stock paper, or any other suitable material. According to some embodiments, thesleeve450 is approximately the size of thepaper mailing402. According to other embodiments, thesleeve450 instead is associated with only a portion of the paper mailing402 (e.g., may be formed betweencreases404 in thepaper mailing402 as illustrated inFIG. 4).

A simulated contactless identification card reader (such as thesimulated reader320 ofFIG. 3) may be housed substantially within thesleeve450 and may include an antenna, a detection unit, and/or anoutput indicator426. In the case of an LED or similar type ofoutput indicator426, theoutput indicator426 may be viewable through a hole in thesleeve450. Note that the simulated reader may be attached to one or more sides of thepaper sleeve450. Moreover, apresentation surface428 may comprise a visual representation printed on an outside surface of thepaper sleeve450. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 4, thepresentation surface428 may be a rectangle instructing a consumer to “pass card over this box.” As another example, thepresentation surface428 might be a photograph or drawing of an actual contactless identification card reader.

According to some embodiments, a battery may also be housed substantially within the paper sleeve (e.g., to provide power to a detection unit and/or, indirectly, to a contactless identification card). In this case, thepaper mailing402 may further include a switch or other mechanism to disable the battery. For example, a consumer might need to remove a tab to enable the battery. As another example, the battery might be disabled unit a portion of thepaper mailing402 is unfolded. Such approaches may, for example, help prevent the battery from being used when not appropriate (e.g., to prevent mistaken use of the battery while in transit when thepaper mailing402 is sent to consumers along with an actual contactless identification card).

Thus, improved devices and methods associated with the introduction of contactless identification card systems to consumers may be provided by embodiments described herein. Moreover, the embodiments may be economically appropriate (e.g., because detection units do not include all of the functionality associated with actual card readers).

The present invention has been illustrated herein in the context of contactless payment cards and readers therefor. Nevertheless, the principles of the present invention are also applicable more generally to identification cards (and readers therefor) provided for applications other than payments. Examples of such applications may include loyalty program identification cards, transit system access cards, etc. Similarly, embodiments may be provided in connection with a wireless telephone, a Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”), or any payment device capable of operating in connection with embodiments described herein.

Although the particular example ofFIG. 4 is directed to apaper sleeve450 of apaper mailing402, note that embodiments may be practiced in other settings. For example, a simulated contactless card reader may be housed in a second rectangular plastic card (e.g., and the consumer might tap the actual card over the simulated reader card). As another example, simulated readers might be included in a kiosk, a store display, a billboard, a shopping cart, or any other location where it might be helpful to have consumers practice using contactless card (e.g., a sample contactless card might be chained to a display at a retail establishment, and the display might include a simulated reader to show consumers just how easy it is to use the system).

Moreover, although rectangular cards have been used herein as examples, note that contactless cards may take any other form, including a fob or disk attached to a keychain.

According to still other embodiments, a “simulated contactless identification card” may also be provided to consumers along with a simulated contactless identification card reader. For example, both a simulated contactless identification card (e.g., a card having some limited RFID capabilities but not an actual payment identifier) and a simulated contactless identification card reader might be mailed to potential consumers. The consumers could then use the two simulated components to practice presenting cards to readers thus familiarize themselves with contactless systems.

Yet other embodiments might have a contactless card itself detect a simulated reader. For example, a card (or a simulated card) might include a speaker or LED that activates when near either (i) an actual contactless card reader, or (ii) a simulated card reader including an IC embedded into a sheet of cardboard or paper that is mailed to new cardholders.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations apparent to those skilled in the art can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A simulated contactless identification card reader, comprising:

an antenna adjacent a card presentation surface, the antenna for exchanging wireless signaling with a contactless identification card presented to the card presentation surface;

a detection unit coupled to the antenna to detect a presence of a contactless identification card; and

an output indicator coupled to the detection unit to provide a user-perceivable indication when the detection unit detects a presence of a contactless identification card, wherein the simulated contactless identification card reader does not process an identifier of the contactless identification card.

2. The contactless identification card reader ofclaim 1, wherein the output indicator comprises a speaker to generate a sound when the detection unit detects a presence of a contactless identification card.

3. The contactless identification card reader ofclaim 1, wherein the output indicator comprises a visual indicator to generate a visual indication when the detection unit detects a presence of a contactless identification card.

4. The contactless identification card reader ofclaim 1, further comprising:

a substantially planar paper sleeve, wherein the antenna, the detection unit, and the output indicator are housed substantially within the paper sleeve.

5. The contactless identification card reader ofclaim 4, wherein the presentation surface comprises a visual representation printed on an outside surface of the paper sleeve.

6. The contactless identification card reader ofclaim 1, further comprising:

a battery housed substantially within the paper sleeve.

7. The contactless identification card reader ofclaim 1, wherein the detection unit does not directly or indirectly communicate with any device outside the simulated contactless identification card reader other than the contactless identification card.

8. The contactless identification card ofclaim 1, wherein the contactless identification card comprises a contactless payment device.

9. In combination, a simulated contactless identification card reader and a contactless identification card in proximity to the contactless identification card reader;

the simulated contactless identification card reader including:

an antenna adjacent a card presentation surface, the antenna for exchanging wireless signaling with a contactless identification card presented to the card presentation surface,

a detection unit coupled to the antenna to detect a presence of a contactless identification card, and

an output indicator coupled to the detection unit to provide a user-perceivable indication when the detection unit detects a presence of a contactless identification card, wherein the simulated contactless identification card reader does not process an identifier of the contactless identification card; and

the contactless identification card including:

a card-shaped plastic body,

an antenna embedded in the plastic body, and

at least one integrated circuit embedded in the plastic body and coupled to the antenna, the antenna for exchanging wireless signaling with the contactless identification card reader.

10. The combination ofclaim 9, wherein the output indicator of the contactless identification card reader comprises a speaker to generate a sound when the detection unit detects a presence of a contactless identification card.

11. The combination ofclaim 9, wherein the output indicator of the contactless identification card reader comprises a visual indicator to generate a visual indication when the detection unit detects a presence of a contactless identification card.

12. The combination ofclaim 9, wherein the contactless identification card reader further comprises:

13. The combination ofclaim 12, wherein the presentation surface comprises a visual representation printed on an outside surface of the paper sleeve.

14. The combination ofclaim 9, wherein the detection unit of the contactless identification card reader does not does not store an identifier of the contactless identification card and does not communicate with any device outside the simulated contactless identification card reader other than the contactless identification card.

15. The combination ofclaim 9, wherein the contactless identification card comprises a contactless payment device.

16. A method, comprising:

detecting that a contactless identification device is currently being presented to a card presentation surface; and

automatically transmitting a user-perceivable indication directly in response to said detecting, without processing an identifier of the contactless identification device.

17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein said detecting is performed by a detection unit that does not does not process an identifier associated with the contactless identification device being presented and does not communicate with any device outside the simulated contactless identification card reader other than the contactless identification card.

18. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the user-perceivable indication comprises at least one of: (i) a sound, or (ii) a visual indication.

19. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the contactless identification device comprises at least one of: (i) a contactless payment card, and (ii) a wireless telephone.